Contacts:Stacey Reeh, JD, [email protected]
Program Description:University Beyond Bars (UBB) provides higher education to incarcerated men on-site at the Monroe Correctional Complex in Monroe, Washington. UBB’s mission is twofold: 1) to transform Washington’s prisons into communities of learning by providing post-secondary education to the incarcerated, particularly to prisoners of color, and 2) to educate the public about prison issues. Prisoners who have earned their GED can choose from two educational pathways: one offers non-credit, college-level courses and the offers credit-bearing college courses. We have expanded to provide college preparatory instruction as well. Our twice monthly Arts and Lectures series, with guest speakers from a variety of disciplines, is open to all prisoners.
Degrees Offered:Associates and Bachelors.
Programs Offered:College preparatory courses, non-credit certificate courses, and credit-bearing college courses.
Unique Features:
1) Prisoners themselves play a vital role in administering UBB programs through our Prisoners Advisory Committee which helps determine program policy and organizational goals.
2) We recruit instructors from area colleges and universities who volunteer their time, donating over 3,000 hours per semester.
3) UBB is not part of any educational institution. The energy and funding for this program come from concerned individuals and educators acting independently from their institutions.
Headquarters:Seattle, WA
Correctional Facilities Served:Monroe Correctional Complex in Monroe, Washington
Population Served:Men incarcerated at the Monroe Correctional Complex
Number of Students: 150-200
Graduates to Date: 11
Year Founded: 2005
Founders: Carol Estes and Gary Idleburg
College/University/Organization Partnerships:Students earn credit through Seattle Central Community College but UBB is not part of that institution.
Funding:Privately funded through foundations and individual donors. All teachers volunteer their time to the program.